PM in Khaptad to inaugurate Spiritual Conclave

KHAPTAD, June 6: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrived in Khaptad today from Birendranagar of Surkhet on a Nepali Army Helicopter. 

His presence in the famous religious and tourist site in the Sudurpaschim Province is to inaugurate an International Spiritual Conclave organised at the Khaptad National Park. The park straddles territories from Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Doti districts in the Sudurpashim.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Foreign Affairs Minister NP Saud and Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak. Prior to this, Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, former Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal and Province ministers arrived here in the course of attending the Conference. 

The event, the first of its kind in Khaptad, is the joint initiation of the Sudurpaschim government and the Khaptad Tourism Development Committee. Indian Yoga instructor Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Yogapeeth general secretary Acharya Balkrishna arrived here today on a helicopter to attend the event. 

The event aims to promote the religious and spiritual touristic aspects concerning the area and support the development of the Province, according to Khaptad Area Tourism and Management Committee chair Harka Bahadur Singh. Baba Ramdev is scheduled to give a session on Yoga on the first day of the Conclave and Acharya Balkrishna will handle Yoga sessions the following two days, according to Singh. 

The four-day event is expected to welcome former Prime Minister, sitting ministers, federal lawmakers, international spiritual instructors, said Committee executive director Bhim Bahadur Khadka. 

Khaptad, which is known as the Bhu Swarga (Heaven on the Earth) for its pristine beauty, lies at an altitude of around 3,100 meters above sea level. It spreads to around 225 square meters of area.